Karen Yvonne (Flaten) Jacobs

Karen Yvonne (Flaten) Jacobs entered the world weighing only 2 pounds 14 ounces on September 2, 1944 in Thief River Falls. Her family lived 40 miles from the doctor there and as her mom was seen for her 6 month checkup, she went into labor. Karen spent many weeks in the new hospital incubator which had just arrived and was taken out of the box for her. She was cared for by compassionate nurses who named her “PeeWee”.
She fit in a shoebox when she came home to the wood heated farm house at Strathcona. She was placed near the open oven door for warmth and her aunt came to help feed her frequently with an eye dropper. The home had no electricity until she was 4 years old. Karen needed naps every day. She slept on the school bus during the 12 mile trips to and from Greenbush Elementary School.
Church was an integral part of family life. Karen’s walk with God was so powerful it drove her to travel at her own expense to Australia and then to communist China where she and others hid Bibles in luggage to take into the country. The airport scanners stopped working as Bibles passed through security. They were distributed at night at great risks to their safety and well-being. In fact, one of the members was caught, sent to prison and eventually released. This trip gave her a close connection and empathy for the Chinese people which lasted for the rest of her life.
Karen graduated from Greenbush High School and School of Business in Grand Forks. She moved to Medford Oregon where she worked for Attorneys and as a single mom worked tirelessly to provide for needs of her children. Later she relocated to Oak Harbor Washington to be close to family where she again worked for attorneys Cohen, Manni, Theune & Manni. After retiring, she worked for the school district teaching up until Covid.

She was married and divorced. Her children are Darcie (Bill) Burgoyne and Shawn Haugen of Oak Harbor. She had 4 grandchildren, Briana, Joshua, Sarah and Matthew. 5 great-grandchildren, Shayla, Jaxon, Breyer, Shae and Alexus. Brother Mancer David Flaten, Pembroke VA, and sister Maryl (Neal) Scott, New Richland MN.
She was preceded in death by brother Sheldon (age 3), parents Mancer and Nora (Gjovik) Flaten and son-in-law Bill Burgoyne.

She passed peacefully surrounded by family on 26th of July 2022 on her mother’s birthday. Karen lived a life of great integrity and was respected, adored and loved by all who knew her.

Services were held August 4 at 11:00 am at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Oak Harbor Washington.